MY TAKE ON AESTHETICS
Mixed Media on wood, 24”x 18”, Copyright 2014 David Limrite
“What moves men of genius, or rather what inspires their work, is not new ideas, but their obsession with the idea.”
~Eugene Delecroix
Aesthetics is the study of how images operate apart from their literal meaning. Aesthetics pertains to a sense of beauty in nature and in art.
Here are my thoughts on several things you can do to help you achieve better aesthetics in your work.
Layers rule! Layers can add life and vitality to your paintings. Not to mention increasing richness and depth. Build up that painting in layers. Be patient. Every time you add a new layer, let some of the previous layer show through.
Let accidents and mistakes happen. And then leave them alone. They may be brilliant, but you may not recognize it at the time.
Explore possibilities and experiment. After much experimentation, your choices will not be so arbitrary. They will become more educated. Therefore, becoming more essential to your outcomes.
Don’t be afraid to record your search and your journey in your paintings. Let us see your process. Don’t cover everything up. Let us see where you have been.
Know your materials really well. Know what they can and cannot do. And what you can and cannot make them do.
Be slow to decide when your materials have been pushed to their limits. Push them further than they want to go.
Let your interest, obsession, fascination, excitement and energy show up in your work. Expressive manipulation of your materials creates visual excitement for the viewer. Pour your heart and soul into your work.
Let your work evolve from interactions between you, your subject matter, your ideas and your emerging creation. As well as from your materials and surfaces.
It’s not all about the image. It’s about aesthetics.
Best,
David
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